Trust you two to muck about! Dodgy boilers, fish-ology - whatever is this forum coming to?

We love you anyway.

Returning to topic - here's some easy things for all our members to do, to make this campaign - which is working fantastically well from the point of view of there being the highest ever number of tax credit disputes being made - a bit more visible to the public. We want the petition signing and YouTubedistribution to reflect the huge amount of work we do and the massive interest in us. So here's some ideas to start folk off gently:

2. Sign the amnesty petition here You must be logged in to see this link. and let’s all get ten other people we know to do so too. The numbers signing are pathetic in relation to the numbers affected - BUT ONLY BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT!!!! Remember when Brown said that only a handful of people had signed the petition for an early election on him as PM, and what happened next?! Let's put that right, and make sure millions rather than thousands know and sign!

And don't hold back from other suggestions. We have a great campaign and brilliant people here, but we really aren't making the use we can of the skills we have, and it's going to delay results unless we pull our fingers out.

So let's go for this, folks, and make the politicians an offer they can't refuse!

Morpheus: … as long as there is a single breath in his body he'll never give up… and neither can we.

The Westminster Meeting planning seems to be going great guns, but we are predictably low on interest from the LABOUR party - you know - I don't know if you remember it, but it was that centre left party that embraced Socialism and represented the interests of the lower paid, and used to have a proud tradition of supporting the underdog (last seen disappearing from Crewe). Perhaps I shouldn't mock the afflicted. Anyway, if you happen to have a Labour MP, please could you write to them or email them to invite them to:

The public launch of the Tax Credit Casualties 'Voices of the Victims' book, recounting customer experiences of the tax credot system, in Room N, Portcullus House, Westminster at 3pm on Monday 9th June, to cross-party MPs and the Press. Claimants will be there to give further information afterwards.

We could do with a few Labour MPs. Conservatives and Lib Dems are well represented, but an unrepresented party is not going to be able to have its say, and that in itself makes a powerful statement in relation to Labour's new-found commitment to 'listening'.

Please can everyone here support our 'Voices of the Victims' London Tour by emailing or writing to their MP to let her or him know that:

The public launch of the Tax Credit Casualties 'Voices of the Victims' book, telling the stories of about 40 claimants' experiences of the tax credit system, in being Room N, Portcullus House, Westminster at 3pm on Monday 9th June, to cross-party MPs and the Press. TCC representatives will be available for discussion and further information afterwards. Please be there.

Would you like to join us? Please email me at ali@taxcreditcasualties.org . Would you be willing to go on our list to talk to the media about your own experiences if needs be? Help us to help you!

If train fares are your only barrier to attending, but you would really like to contribute to the day, please let me know, as we have a small 'fares' fund for those in greatest need (not for ourselves), thanks to a kind supporter and ally.

Morpheus: … as long as there is a single breath in his body he'll never give up… and neither can we.

Right, folks - let's get this sent to our MPs, local Citizens Advice Bureau, and anyone else you think might be interested! Cut and paste it, and it's either a quick email of the cost of a stamp, to reach more and more people:

Tax Credit Casualties take 'Voices of the Victims' to Westminster

On Monday 9th June - the day that Gordon Brown stated that "Tax Credits have been a success" – representatives from user support and campaign group Tax Credit Casualties returned to Westminster to campaign against his 'success' in bringing debt, misery, turmoil and HMRC oppression to up to two million families a year since Tax Credits were introduced in 2003.

Tax Credit Casualties recently returned to Westminster, to launch 'Voices of the Victims' - the booklet written by Tax Credit overpayment victims. Not a 'selection' of the 'juiciest' stories, but a collection of tragic and heartbreaking truths that we collated on a first-come basis. It’s the first piece of user-led qualitative research on Tax Credit overpayment and brings together nearly 40 cases in the victims’ own words. The victims who volunteered their stories for inclusion in the booklet showed tremendous courage, recounting harrowing tales of stress-related illness, life-changing devastation, bungling bureaucracy and tenacity as they fought for a measure of justice in a biased and punitive system.

Travelling from all corners of the country, TCC national coordinators started the day by meeting with tax lawyers Patrick Way and Hui Ling McCarthy, to discuss the potential of bringing a court case against HMRC. While Hui Ling and Patrick have generously offered their very valuable time and expertise, by working to represent us on a pro bono basis, we need to be able to guarantee funds to cover costs in the event of any court judgement going against us. TCC left the meeting determined to accelerate fundraising, and raise back-up funds to take the campaign forward.

The launch of 'Voices of the Victims' was held at Portcullis House, just across the road from the Houses of Parliament. TCC national coordinators Sarah, Ali, Paula and the Webmaster at You must be logged in to see this link. were well supported by a good turnout of loyal TCC members, with official attendees including MPs, prospective parliamentary candidates and representatives from SPAN and One Parent Families. The press were represented by reporters from The Daily Mail, The Daily Express and the Press Association.

After the national coordinators had introduced 'Voices of the Victims' and the case for an amnesty with a series of short speeches, copies of the booklet were distributed. Although well received, the true impact of 'Voices' will not be felt until people have had the chance to fully digest its content and recognise how typical of claimant experiences these stories truly are.

There was then a question and answer section, after which a number of attendees took the opportunity to thank us - a lot of support was expressed for the work TCC do, and many MPs and candidates made suggestions for action.

TCC would like to thank every MP and Parliamentary Candidate who attended, or sent representatives on their behalf. Thanks must go, too, to the many MPs who sent their apologies for not being able to attend, but requested copies of the booklet. We look forward to counting on your future support.

The only disappointment of the day was being unable to deliver a copy of 'Voices of the Victims' to 10 Downing Street. Whilst we are sure Gordon Brown would benefit from reading 'Voices', we were declined permission. John Hemming MP later delivered a copy on TCC's behalf, along with the TCC’s Amnesty Petition.

Special thanks must also go to Fareham MP Mark Hoban (Conservative), and Portsmouth North Parliamentary Candidate Penny Mordaunt and Hilsea Councillor Alistair Thompson (Conservatives) for assistance with organising the event and logistics, without which we could not have done it. We would also particularly like to thank all the members of TCC who gave up their time to come along and give their support. The day was a huge success and a big step forward.

To download and read 'Voices of the Victims' for yourself, and have a small glimpse into the suffering caused by tax credit overpayment recovery. please visit You must be logged in to see this link. .

Just quickly - regarding our most recent London tour and the delivery of our updated Petition and Voices of the Victims booklet by Lib Dems John Hemming and Darren Sanders - my MP Sarah McCarthy-Fry is now chasing up our beloved Gordon Brown's response. Will post details here once received.

Trinity: The answer is out there… and it's looking for you, and it will find you if you want it to.

At least everyone knew what Margaret Thatcher was about. I don't recall her waxing tender about sharing everyone's pain. Everyone expected her to be hard as nails. We got exactly what was on the tin.

Gordon Brown pays lip service to social justice, fairness, opportunity, inclusion, equity and all those warm, glowy words, but it is all a hollow sham. There is nothing underneath it, and no intention to genuinely listen and respond to those who rise to his empty challenge to tell him what it is that we want and need. I am certainly no lover of Thatcher, but at least she knew when it was time to stand down, and when she was loathed beyond the point of any return to favour. As Alan has said, there is nothing Right (apart from his politics) or Honourable about him.

Why does he speak of fairness when he continually shuns it? How fair is it to persecute tax credit claimants prematurely through the kangaroo debtors courts knowing full well that, even with a fantastic defence and reams of evidence of their honesty and compliance, claimants can never, ever win?

Excuse the rant, but to pretend fairness and decency, and administer injustice, lies and deceit is a low trick in my book, and I despise the man for it (if you haven't noticed!).

Brown is doing more damage to Labour than Cameron and Clegg ever could!

Trinity: The answer is out there… and it's looking for you, and it will find you if you want it to.